Hydrostat mechanism



Nov. l, 196() `A. H. sl-:LLMAN ETAL HYDROSTAT MECHANISM Filed Feb. 26,1942 INVENTORS WATTORNEY Nov. l, 1960 A. H. sl-:LLMAN ETAL 2,958,281

HYDRosTAT MECHANISM Filed Feb. 2e, 1942 s sheets-sheet 2v Nov. 1, 1960Filed Feb. 26. 1942 A. H. SELLMAN ETAL 2,958,281

HYDROSTAT MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 C. HO BS ATTORNEY Nov. l, 1960Filed Feb. 26, 1942 A. H. SELLMAN ETAL HYDROSTAT MECHAN'ISM 5Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS A. H. SELLMAN R. H. PARK R. W. WALLACE C. A.HOBBS ATTORNEY Nov. 1, 1960 Filed Feb. 26, 1942 A. H. SELLMAN ETALHYDROSTAT MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 l n? "Wj IIB lll'l l "4 I IIII 1 mI3 O9 Ef los INVENToRs A. H SELLMAN R. H PARK R. W WALLACE c. Ho BYoRNEY United States Patent O HYDROSTAT MECHANISM Albert H. Sellman,Washington, D.C.; Robert H. Park, Pluckemin, NJ. (Corporation Road,Dennis, Mass.); Roger W. Wallace, Washington, D.C.; and Charles A.Hobbs, Atlanta, Ga. (R.F.D. 6, Charlotte, N.C.)

Filed Feb. 26, 1942, Ser. N0. 432,454

1`1 Claims. (Cl. 10218) (Granted under Title 35, U.S. Code (1952), sec.266) This invention relates to submarine mine firing and control devicesin which the mine is armed when a predetermined period of time haselapsed after the mine has been planted within a body of water and inwhich the mine is automatically destroyed when the mine is raised towardthe surface of the water. More specifically, the present inventionrelates to mine iring control mechanisms in which a detonating device ismoved into operative relation with respect to an explosive charge by theoperation of a hydrostat in response to the pressure of the water withinwhich the mine is arranged, the hydrostat also controlling the operationof certain switching devices in predetermined order of sequence therebyto energize certain control circuits whereby the mine is armed andcaused to explode in response to the passage of a predetermined numberof vessels within the vicinity of the mine in accordance with thesetting of a selection device.

In systems heretofore proposed for controlling the tiring mechanism of asubmarine mine in which the firing of the mine is accomplishedelectrically by current from a source of electrical energy dispoesdwithin the mine, it is the general practice to perform the severalswitching operations necessary for energizing the various circuits bymeans of a clock mechanism having means provided therein for performingthe various switching operations. Such systems require a ratherexpensive and complicated clock mechanism for performing the necessaryswitching functions and are not wholly reliable under all conditions ofservice for the reason that the clock may fail to start because of thestorage of insuicient mechanical energy within the prime mover thereofor by reason of the failure of the starting mechanism to operate.Furthermore, the clock may stop in certain cases, before the cycle ofoperations thereof has been completed as the result of the formation ofrust or the presence of foreign matter within the gear train orescapement mechanism or by reason of thickened lubricant or damage tothe clock mechanism during the handling, transportation and planting ofthe mme.

In the system of the present invention the detonator is actuatedpreferably by a lazy tongs arrangement in which a relatively smallmovement of the exible diaphragm of a hydrostat is multiplied suicientlyto actuate the detonating device through a considerable distance andcause the detonating device to be arranged initially at a safe distancefrom the booster charge and inserted well within the charge as thehydrostat operates. The hydrostat device is also provided with meansadapted to operate a plurality of contact devices in predeterminedsequential order thereby to close a plurality of electrical controlcircuits in predetermined time relation during the operation of thehydrostat and to render an additional switch device effective to ire thedetonator and to explode the mine in the event that the hydrostat isactuated toward the initial position from the operated position thereof.The hydrostat is also provided with a soluble washer adapted to preventthe operation of the hydrostat until the device has been planted withinthe water for a predetermined period ICC of time suiiicient to cause thesoluble Washer to dissolve or soften. There is also provided a lock nutsecured to the hydrostat having an aperture therein within which 1sdisposed a removable rod or wire, hereinafter referred to as an armingwire, thereby additionally to prevent movement of the hydrostat untilthe arming wire has been withdrawn from the nut.

The hydrostat device of the present invention is adapted to control amine ring mechanism, preferably of the type in which the mine is tiredelectrically by a change in the magnetic field adjacent the mine such,for example, as may be caused by the approach of a steel vessel or otherpreponderous mass of iron or steel within the vicinity of the mine andin which the firing of the mine is delayed until a predetermined numberof such signals have been received.

One of the objects of the present invention is the provision of new andimproved means for inserting a detonating device within an explosivecharge and for closing a plurality of control circuits in predeterminedsequential order concurrently therewith.

Another of the objects is the provision of new and improved means forinitiating a cycle of operations of a mine tiring mechanism concurrentlywith the insertion of a detonating device into an explosive charge.

Still another object is the provision of means for exploding a mine inresponse to the withdrawal of the detonator from the explosive charge.

A still further object is the provision of an arming and controlmechanism for a submarine mine which is simple in operation, economicalto manufacture, and which possesses all of the qualities of ruggednessand reliability in operation.

Still further objects, advantages and improvements will be apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings of which:

Fig. l is a view partly in section of a submarine mine in accordancewith the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation partly broken away of the hydrostatextending and switching mechanism employed with the mine of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view partly broken away of the device of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 ofFig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view of one of the control switches and actuating meanstherefor;

Fig, 6 is a view partly in section of the device in a fully operatedposition, and;

Fig. 7 illustrates in diagrammatic form a complete system suitable foruse with the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings on which like numerals of reference areemployed to designate like parts throughout the several views and moreparticularly to Fig. 1 thereof on which is shown a submarine mineindicated generally by the numeral 10 comprising a casing 11 adapted tobe sealed by a cap 12 secured thereto by the bolts 13, a suitable gasket14 being provided preferably between the cap and the casing to insure awatertight joint therebetween. The casing is provided with a well 15 towhich is secured as by the bolts 16 a hydrostat device indicatedgenerally by the numeral 17. A gasket 18 is provided preferably betweenthe hydrostat device and the bottom of the well to prevent the seepageor leakage of water within the casing. The well is continued downward asat 19 thereby to form a chamber 20 within which is arranged a boostercharge 21 having an aperture 22 therein adapted to receive a detonatingdevice as the hydrostat 17 operates. The portion 19 of the Well ispreferably braced to the casing 11 as by the member 23` secured thereto.

There is also provided a chamber 24 Within the casing of the mineadapted to receive vand support the battery 25, a suitable pad orcushion 26 of material suitable for the purpose such, for example, assponge rubber or the like preferably being arranged between the batteryand the walls of the chamber to prevent injury or damage to the batteryas the device is launched within the water. A cable duct or tube 27 isprovided between the chamber 24 and the chamber 20 within which isdisposed a plurality of electrical conductors whereby an externalelectrical circuit is established to the switches controlled by thehydrostat 17. The casing is also provided with a chamber 28 adapted toreceive and support a mine firing mechanism 29, a suitable pad orcushion 31 being provided between the mine firing mechanism and thewalls of the chamber 28 to prevent damage or injury to the mine firingmechanism during the handling, transportation and launching of the mine.The cushion 31 is provided with an aperture 32 within which is disposeda cable 33 comprising a plurality of electrical conductors forestablishing an external circuit to the Inine firing mechanism 29.

There is also provided within the casing an induction or pickup coil 34comprising a large number of turns of fine wire wound about an iron rodor a rod composed of material known in the art as Permalloy having acomposition of substantially 121/2 percent iron and 871/2 percentnickel, the induction coil being suitably supported at each end thereofby a flexible cushion or pad 35 arranged within a suitable well withinthe member 36 secured to the casing of the mine and a similar well orrecess secured to the partition 37 within the mine.

The casing 11 is provided with a recessed portion l38 having an aperture39 therein for the induction of an explosive mixture 41 within thecasing, a cover 42 secured thereto as by the bolts 43 being provided toseal the aperture. A gasket 44 may, if desired, be provided between thecover and the bottom of the recessed portion 38 of the casing to preventthe entrance of water or moisture Within the casing of the mine. Thereis also provided preferably a plurality of fins 45 secured to the minecasing in any convenient manner thereby to direct and steer the mineboth in the air and in the water along a predetermined line of flightwhen the mine is launched from a craft such, for example, as anaircraft, vessel or the like.

When the mine is launched from an aircraft in flight an arming wire 46having one end secured to the aircraft and the other end thereof passingthrough an aperture within the hydrostat device is employed preferablyto prevent the possibility of the premature operation of the hydrostatuntil the mine has fallen free of the aircraft.

The hydrostat device 17 employed with the present invention comprises asupport 47, Figs. 2 and 3, having a flanged portion 48 provided with aplurality of apertures 49 adapted to receive the bolts 16, Fig. l,whereby the hydrostat is securely clamped to the casing of the mine atthe lower portion of the well 15. The support 47 has secured thereto, inany suitable manner, a cap 51 thereby forming a chamber 52 to whichwater is admitted by a plurality of apertures 53 within the cap. Thereis also formed within the cap 51 a recess or well 54 adapted to receiveand support a soluble washer 55 of material suitable for the purposesuch, for example, as a composition of salt, glycerine, glue and thelike having an aperture therein within which is arranged the plunger orshaft 56. The end of the shaft 56 is preferably threaded and providedwith a wing nut 57, a suitable washer 58 being arranged between the wingnut and the soluble washer to prevent movement of the plunger 56inwardly until the soluble washer has dissolved. The wing nut isprovided with a cylindrical projecting portion 59 adapted to projectfrom an aperture within the cover 60 secured to the cap 51 in anysuitable manner as by threading the parts together. The cylindricalportion 59 of the nut is provided with a plurality of apertures 61adapted to receive the arming wire 46, Fig. l, and additionally preventmovement of the plunger or rod inwardly until the arming wire has beenwithdrawn from the wing nut by reason of a shoulder 62 provided on thecover 60 in substantial abutting relation with the apertures 61 when thewing nut is in the position shown on the drawings.

The plunger 56 is bifurcated at the lower portion thereof and slideablysupported within the support 47 and prevented from rotative movementwith respect thereto by reason of a square or oblong aperture within thesupport 47 within which the member 56 is slideably fitted. The support47 is provided with a cylindrical portion 63 within which a piston 64 isarranged, the piston 64 being supported by a shoulder 65 on the plungerrod 56. Secured to the piston 64 las by the nut 66 and washer 67 is aflexible diaphragm 68, a screw 69 being provided within the nut 66thereby to maintain the nut securely in a clamped position. The outeredge of the flexible diaphragm 68 is clamped in sealed relation to ashoulder 71 within the support 47 as by the clamping ring 72 threadedtherein, 'a plurality of slots 73 being provided within the clampingring for receiving a suitable clamping tool during the assembly of thedevice. The cap 51, it will be noted, is provided with an aperture orbearing support 74 within which the plunger 56 is adapted to slid'e anda plurality of apertures 75 adapted to allow the passage of watertherethrough from the chamber 52 to the soluble washer 55. The lower endof the bifurcated portion of the member 56 is provided with a pin 76passing therethrough and retained in the assembled position as by thecotter pins 77. The pin 76 also passes through the arms 78 and 79 at theslotted portion 80 thereof, the arms being pivotally mounted upon thesupport 47 as by the pins 81 and 82 respectively, suitable projections83 and 84 being provided for this purpose. There is also provided aU-shaped member 85 secured t0 the support 47 as by the screws 86 withinwhich the bifurcated portion of the rod 56 is adapted to move. There isalso provided a plurality of levers or links 87 and 88 operativelyconnected to the lever arms 78 and 79 as by the bearing pins 89 and 91,the links 87 and 88 being connected together in the manner shown on thedrawing to form a lazy tong arrangement in which the links 92 and 93 areemployed to complete the connection between the lazy tongs and themember 94 slideably mounted within the slotted portions 95 arrangedwithin the U-shaped member 85 on opposite sides of the lazy tongs, asuitable pin 96 maintained in assembled position by the cotter pins 97being employed preferably to transmit the motion of the lazy tongs tothe member 94. The member 94 is provided with a cylindrical portion 98adapted to receive a detonating device 99 secured thereto as by thescrew 101.

The detonator is held in the retracted position by the springs 102 and103 secured to the arms 78 and 79 respectively, the other end of thesprings being in engagement with the turned up portions 104 and 105 ofthe lower end of the member 85.

By employing relatively long springs 102 and 103 connected to the arms78 and 79 iin the manner illustrated on the drawings, the movement ofthe spring is less than the degree of movement of the flexible diaphragm68 and because of the relatively long springs and the small degree ofmovement thereof the pressure applied to the member 56 fby the springsis substantially uniform throughout the range of operation of thedevice. Furthermore, by employing two springs in the manner illustratedthe member 56 may be moved inward or outward, yas the case may be,without excessive friction or binding of the parts and thus yanarrangement is provided in which the device -is invariably reliable inoperation in response to predetermined variations in the pressure of thewater within which the device is submerged.

The lower er1-d of the member 85 is provided preferably with aprojecting collar 106 secured thereto in `any suitable manner and havingan aperture therein of suicient size to permit the passage of thedetonator therethrough as the detonator is moved to the extendedposition.

'I'he member 94 has secured thereto in any suitable manner as by thescrews 107 a cam member 108 having an inclined portion 109 raisedtherefrom and a slotted portion 111 adapted to engage the projecting end112 of a spring 113 secured to the switch device 114. The switch 114 issecured to the U-shaped member 85 in any suitable manner as by thescrews 115 and provided with a pair of contacts adapted to be moved intoengagement with each other when a plunger 116 is actuated inwardly bythe spring member 113. The switch is provided with a pair of conductors117 and 118 for establishing an external electrical connection -betweenthe switch contacts and a terminal block 119, Figs. 2 and 4, secured tothe member 85 as by the screws 121. There is also secured to the plunger56 as by the screws 122 a support 123 having a screw 124 by means ofwhich the U-shaped spring 125 having raised portions 126 and 127 thereonis affixed thereto and `adapted to engage the pl-ungers of the switches128 and 129 respectively. The switch 128 is adapted to close a pair orcontacts momentarily in response to the engagement of the plungerthereof by the raised portion 126 of the spring 125 .as the plunger S6begins to move the detonator into operative relation with respect to thebooster charge.

The switch 129 has a pai-r of normally closed contacts maintained in theopen position by the raised portion 127 of the spring 125 when thehydrostat is unoperated and adapted to cause the cont-acts thereof to bemoved to closed position .after the plunger switch 128 has been actuatedand released by the raised portion 126 of the spring 125 during themovement of the hydrostat to the operated position thereof. The switches114, 128 and 129 are connected together by suitable conductors in themanner illustrated on Fig. 7, the electrical connections to the switchesincluding preferably terminals of the connecting or terminal block 119.The member 94, it will be noted, .is provided with an `aperture 131within which is disposed -a pair of electrical conductors within theinsulating sleeve or cable 132 for establishing an electrical connectionbetween the detonating device 99 and the terminals 133 on the terminalblock 119. The cable 132, it will be noted, is of suicient length topermit the movement 4of the detonating device from the initial to thetinal position thereof without interfering any way with the oper-ationof the device.

There is also secured to the U-shaped member 85 as by the screws 134 andstuds 135 Ia plate o-r rguard 136 thereby to elfectively prevent dam-ageor injury to the switch 114 `and spring member 113 thereof during theassembly 4and testing of the device. A similar plate or guard 137preferably of insulating material is provided on the opposite side ofthe U-shaped member 85 and secured thereto as by the screws 138 andstuds or spacers 139 thereby to protect the switch mechanisms 128 and129 and the electrical connections of the terminal block 119 from injuryor damage during the assembly of the device.

The tiring mechanism 29 comprises, among other elements, a sensitivedetecting relay D, Fig. 7, having an operating coil DR adapted to resetthe tongue of the relay to an initial position intermediate Ia pair ofcontacts. There is also provided within the firing mechanism 29 .a slowreleasing relay P controlled by the relay D and adapted to actuate thestepping ma-gnet STP of a rotary stepping switch which may be of 'anytype suitable ttor the purpose, in which the wiper is advancedsuccessively into contact with la plurality of switch terminalsselectively in accordance with the number of operations of the steppingmagnet. The switch comprises also a reset magnet RS .adapted to restorethe wiper thereof to 1an initial position upon .energization of thereset magnet. The terminals of the switch are wired to contacts of aselector switch SS having a contact member settable ,at will to anydesired position thereby to establish an electrical circuit to apredetermined contact thereof.

The operation of the device will best be understood by a considerationof Fig. 7 which shows in diagrammatic lform a system comprising anarrangement of circuits and parts the.'efor suitable for use with thedevice of the present invention and in which the switch contacts 114,128 and 129 .are employed for controlling the operation of the tiringcontrol mechanism. Let it be assumed, by way of example, that the mine10, Fig. 1, has been launched from an aircraft in tlght over a body ofwater :and that the arming wire 46 is withdrawn from the hydrostatelement thereof as the mine falls away from the aircraft, the minecontinuing its downward movement `along a predetermined line of flightby reason of the tins 45 secured thereto and that the mine has come to4rest on the bed of the body of water. When the mine has been plantedfor a length of time sufficient to cause the soluble washer 55 todissolve or soften to such a consistency that the pressure of the -wateragainst the flexible .diaphragm 68 causes the plunger 56 to be movedinward, the raised portio-n 126 of the spring 125 momentarily actuatesthe switch 128. When this occurs, a circuit is clo-sed from the positiveterminal of the battery BA, conductor 140, winding of reset magnet RS,conductor 141, switch contacts 128, conductor 142 land thence tonegative battery thereby causing the reset magnet RS to operate .andrestore the wiper of the stepping switch to the blank or normal positionthereof in the event that the wiper had been previously moved from theblank position. An arrangement is thus provided in which the wiper ofthe stepping switch is invariably resting on 'the normal or blankposition prior to the arming of the mine. As the hydrostat continues itsmovement inward the raised portion 126 of the spring member 125 movesaway from the plunger of the switch 128 thereby opening the switchcontacts and interrupting the circuit to the release magnet RS. Therelease magnet releases and the stepping switch Iis in readiness tostart a cycle of stepping operations.

As the hydrostat continues to move inward the raised portion 127 of thespring 125 moves away rtirom the plunger or switch 129 thereby causingthe switch contacts to move -into engagement with each other and applynegative battery to conductor 143.

Relay D, it will be recalled, is a sensitive relay adapted to beoperated in response to the electromotive force generated within thepickup coil 34 by reason of the current flowing through the winding DOthereof. The armature or tongue of the relay is preferably adapted toremain in any position in which it has been set and it may be assumed,for the purpose of description, that the armature has been moved intoengagement with one of the contacts associated therewith as a result ofthe handling, transportation or planting of the mine. The manner inwhich the moving element or armature of relay D is restored to' aninitial position intermediate the contacts of the relay will now bedescribed.

As negative battery is applied to conductor 143 by the operation of theswitch 129, the following circuit is completed: positive terminal ofbattery BA, conductor 140, armature and contact 144 or 145 of relay D,as the case may be, conductor 146, winding of relay P, conductor 143,contacts of switch 129, conductor 142 and thence to the negativeterminal of battery BA thereby causing relay P to operate and atarmature 147 thereof apply negative battery to conductor 148 from whencethe circuit is continued by way of the stepping magnet STP of thestepping switch, conductor and thence to positive 7 battery. Thestepping magnet is energized thereby causing the switch wiper to beadvanced to terminal 1 of the switch bank.

'I'he operation of relay P also closes a circuit from positive terminalof battery BA, conductor 140, winding of the slow operating relay SO,conductor 148, make contact and armature 147 of relay P, conductor 143,contacts of switch 129, conductor 142 and thence to the negativeterminal of battery BA thereby causing relay SO to operate. Relay SO, byreason of the provision of a certain delay mechanism such, for example,as a copper slug arranged on the core of the electromagnet of the relaydoes not move the armature 149 thereof into engagement with its makecontact until a predetermined period of time has elapsed after theoperating circuit to the relay has been completed thereby to insure thatthe wiper of the stepping switch will be advanced to the next succeedingterminal of the switch bank before the operate circuit thereto isinterrupted. As armature 149 of relay SO moves into engagement with themake contact thereof, a circuit is closed from positive terminal ofbattery BA, conductor 140, armature 149 and make contact of relay SO,conductor 151, winding of the reset magnet DR of relay D, conductor 143,switch contacts 129, conductor 142 and thence to the negative terminalof battery BA. The operation of the reset magnet DR causes the armatureof relay D to be moved to a position intermediate the contacts 144 and145 thereby interrupting the operate circuit to relay P and causingrelay P to release. Relay P, it will be noted, is a slow release relayand for this reason, armature 147 thereof is not disengaged from itsmake contact until a predetermined period of time has elapsed after theoperate circuit thereto has been interrupted.

As armature 147 of relay P moves away from its make contact, negativebattery is removed from the stepping magnet and the winding of relay SOthereby causing the stepping magnet to be deenergized and relay SO torelease. As armature 149 of relay SO moves away from its make contactpositive battery is removed from the reset magnet DR thereby removingthe restraint from the armature of relay D and causing relay D to beresponsive to signals detected by the pickup or induction coil 34. Themine is now in a partially armed condition with the wiper of thestepping switch resting on contact 1 of the switch bank.

Let it be assumed, by way of example, that the selector switch SS is setin position 2 whereby the first signal received by a passing ship orsweep wire, as the case may be, is ineffective to cause the mine to beexploded. The passage of a ship, for example, within the vicinity of themine causes a disturbance in the magnetic field adjacent theretosufficient to generate an electromotive force within the pickup coil 34and cause the relay D to operate. When this occurs, a circuit is closedfrom the positive terminal of battery BA by way of conductor 140,armature and contact 144 or 145, as the case may be, of relay D,conductor 146, winding of relay P, conductor 143, switch contacts 129,conductor 142 and thence to the negative terminal of battery BA therebycausing relay P to operate and at armature 147 and make contact thereofapply negative battery to the stepping magnet STP and the winding ofrelay SO in parallel, the circuit being continued by way of conductor140 to the positive terminal of battery BA. The stepping magnet STPoperates and advances the switch wiper to terminal 3 of the switch bank.Relay SO operates and at armature 149 thereof closes an operate circuitto the reset magnet DR thereby resetting relay D to an initialunoperated position and causing relay P to release. The release of relayP at armature 147 thereof interrupts the operate circuit to the steppingmagnet STP and relay SO thereby deenergizing the stepping magnet andcausing relay SO to release. As armature 149 of relay SO moves away fromthe make contact thereof, the reset magnet DR releases and relay D isagain rendered responsive to signals detected by the pickup coil 34. Themine is now in an armed condition.

As a second ship approaches the mine the signal picked up by theinduction coil 34 is sufficient to energize the operate magnet DO ofrelay D and move the armature thereof into circuit closing positionthereby applying battery from positive terminal of battery BA by way ofconductor 140, armature and make contact of relay D, conductor 146 andthence to the winding of relay P, the circuit being continued by way ofconductor 143, contacts of switch 129, conductor 142 and thence to thenegative terminal of battery BA. Relay P operates and at armature 147thereof closes a circuit from positive terminal of battery BA, conductor140, winding of the stepping magnet STP and relay SO in parallel,conductor 148, make contact and armature 147 of relay P, conductor 143,contacts of switch 129, conductor 142 to the negative terminal ofbattery BA. The stepping magnet STP operates thereby advancing theswitch wiper to terminal 3 of the switch bank. When this occurs, acircuit is closed from positive terminal of battery BA, conductor 140,detonator 99, conductor 152, wiper of switch SS and contact 2 thereof,conductor 153, terminal 3 and wiper of the stepping switch, conductor143, contacts of switch 129, conductor 142 and thence to negativeterminal of battery BA, thereby causing the detonator to operate andexplode the mine.

Whereas in the example assumed, the mine is exploded in response to thepassage of a second ship within the vicinity of the mine it will, ofcourse, be understood that the mine may be arranged, if desired, toexplode in response to the approach or passage of the first ship withinthe vicinity of the mine, it being merely necessary to set the switch SSto position l. The number of ships required to pass the mine before themine is exploded is predetermined in accordance with the setting of theswitch SS.

The manner in which the mine is caused to explode in response tomovement of the mine toward the surface of the water will now bedescribed with reference to Figs. 3 to 7 of the drawings. Referringparticularly to Fig. 5, it will be noted that the cam member 108 has araised inclined portion 109 adapted to engage the spring 113 and movethe spring outwardly from the switch 114 as the detonator moves into thefully extended position within the booster charge. This movement of thespring 113, as illustrated on Fig. 5 is caused by the engagement of theextended portion 112 of the spring 113 with the inclined portion 109 ofthe cam member 108 at the lower cam surface thereof. As the limit oftravel of the detonator 99 within the booster charge is reached theextended portion 112 of the spring 113 is disengaged from the inclinedportion 109 of the cam member, and the spring moves somewhat inward byreason of the resiliency thereof to the position shown in solid outlineon Fig. 6. As the mine is moved upward toward the surface of the waterthe pressure of the water against the flexible diaphragm 68 is reducedsuciently to cause the member 56 to be moved outward by the springs 102and 103 thereby causing the cam member 108 to be moved to the positionshown in dashed outline on Fig. 6 and the spring 113 to be moved to theposition shown in dashed outline by reason of the engagement of theprojecting portion 112 thereof with the upper cam surface of theinclined raised portion 109. When this occurs the plunger of the switch114 is moved inward thereby operating switch 114 and closing a circuit,Fig. 7, from positive terminal of battery BA by way of conductor 140,detonator 99, conductor 152, contacts of switch 114, the circuit beingcontinued by way of contacts of switch 129, conductor 142 and thence tonegative terminal of battery BA thereby causing the detonator to oeprateand explode the mine.

Briey stated in summary, the present invention contemplates theprovision of a new and improved hydrostatically operated device adaptedto maintain a detonating device at a safe distance from a booster chargeand insert the detonating device Within the booster charge and close aplurality of switching elements and control circuits in predeterminedsequential order concurrently therewith, in which the arrangement ofparts and the combination of instrumentalities employed is such as toinsure reliable operation of the -device and in which the mine is causedto be self-destructive when the mine is raised toward the surface of thewater suflicient to cause the pressure of the water against thehydrostat to be reduced to a predetermined value, thereby to preventdiscovery of the operating mechanism of the mine by unauthorizedpersons.

While there is shown and described herein a certain specic embodiment ofthe invention especially suited for uses in the system of a submarinemine, many other and varied forms and uses will present themselves tothose versed in the art without departing from the invention, and theinvention is, therefore, not limited either in structure or in useexcept as indicated by the terms and scope of the appended claims.

The invention herein disclosed and claimed may be manufactured and usedby and for the Government of the United States of America forgovernmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon ortherefor.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

l. In a device of the character disclosed adapted to be arranged withina body of water, the combination of a casing, a exible diaphragm securedto said casing having one side thereof in communication with the water,a member connected to said diaphragm and movable therewith, a pair oflever arms pivotally connected to said casing and adapted to move saidmovable member outwardly to a predetermined initial position, meansincluding a pair of springs connected respectively to each of said leverarms for yieldably urging said movable member and diaphragm outwardly tosaid predetermined initial position, a motion amplifying deviceoperatively connected to said lever arms, a detonating device adapted tobe moved to an extended position by said motion amplifying device inresponse to the pressure of the water against said diaphragm, a pair ofnormally open switch contacts secured to said casing, and means adaptedto close said switch contacts momentarily during the movement of saiddetonating device by said motion amplifying means.

2. In a device of the character disclosed for controlling the firing ofa submarine mine, the combination of a hydrostat, motion multiplyingmeans, a pair of levers interposed between the hydrostat and the motionmultiplying means, said levers having long and short arms with each ofthe long arms connected to the motion multiplying means and to saidhydrostat, and a pair of elongated springs each fixed at one endrespectively and connected at the opposite ends to the short arms ofsaid levers for yieldably causing the levers to urge said hydrostat andmotion multiplying means into an initial position, a detonating deviceoperatively connected to said motion multiplying means and adapted to bemoved thereby from said initial position to a moved position, anexplosive charge arranged within the path of travel of said detonatingdevice and at a safe distance therefrom when the detonating device is insaid initial position, a control circuit, and means for energizing saidcontrol circuit during the movement of said detonating device from saidinitial position to said moved position.

3. In a device of the character disclosed for inserting a detonatingdevice within an exlosive charge, the combination of a hydrostat incommunication with the water, means for multiplying the degree ofmovement of said hydrostat, detonating means adapted to be moved by saidmultiplying means from an initial position to a moved position withinsaid explosive charge in response to a predetermined pressure of thewater against said hydrostat, a plurality of mine tiring controlcircuits, a selector switch,

means in one of said circuits for resetting said switch, means inanother of said circuits for arming said detonating means, a pluralityof switch devices respectively connected in said circuits, and meansadapted to be actuated by said hydrostat during the movement of thedetonating means from said initial position to said moved position foroperating said switch devices in succession, thereby to energize saidcontrol circuits in predetermined sequential order.

4. In a device of the character disclosed, the combination of ahydrostat having a ilexible diaphragm in communication with the wateradapted to move through a predetermined distance as the hydrostatoperates, a pair of levers having long and short arms for yieldablymaintaining said diaphragm in an initial position, a pair of elongatedspring members respectively connected to the short arms of said leversand adapted to move thro-ugh a lesser distance than the extent ofmovement of the diaphragm as the hydrostat operates, a detonatingdevice, and means connected to the long arms of said levers for causingsaid detonating device to move through a greater distance than theextent of movement of said diaphragm as the hydrostat operates.

5. In a device of the character disclosed, the combination of a casing,a plurality of levers pivotally secured to said casing, a plurality ofsprings respectively connected to each of said levers for yieldablyurging the levers toward an initial position thereof, a flexiblediaphragm having one side thereof in communication with the water, amovable member secured to the central portion of said diaphragm andoperatively connected to said levers, a motion multiplying deviceoperatively connected to said levers and controlled thereby, adetonating device, means for operatively connecting said detonatingdevice to said motion multiplying device whereby the detonating deviceis adapted to be moved variably in accordance with the degree ofmovement of said motion multiplying device, a mine tiring controlmechanism, means including a plurality of switch devices Iactuated bysaid movable member for rendering said mine tiring control mechanismeffective during the movement of said flexible diaphragm from an initialposition to an operated position, and means including -a pair of switchcontacts controlled by said motion multiplying means for exploding saiddetonating device when said exible diaphragm is moved by said springsfrom said operated position toward said initial position.

6. In a hydrostat device of the character disclosed, the combination ofmeans for causing the hydrostat to operate when a predetermined periodof time has elapsed after the device has been planted within a body ofwater, means including a plurality of levers operatively connected tosaid hydrostat device adapted to be actuated by -the hydrostat, aplurality of spring members respectively connected to each of saidlevers for yieldably maintaining said hydrostat in an initial position,an electro-responsive detonating device, motion amplifying meansoperatively connected to said hydrostat :and adapted to move thedetonatv ing device through a much greater distance than the degree ofmovement of the hydrostat, a source of electrical power, means forclosing a circuit during the operation of said hydrostat device inresponse to a predetermined pressure of the water, means effective whenthe pressure of the water has been decreased to a predetermined degreefor closing a pair of co-ntacts as the hydrostat is reversely actuatedby said spring members, and means including said circuit closing meansfor causing the detonating device to be operated by said source ofelectrical power in response to the closure of said pair of contacts.

7. In a device of the character disclosed, the combination of a ilexiblediaphragm having one side thereof in communication with the water, amovable member secured to said diaphragm, a pair of levers operativelyconnected to said movable member, each of said levers having a springsecured thereto for yieldably urging the diaphragm against the water,lazy tongs operatively connected to said levers, a detonating device,means operatively connected to said lazy tongs for supporting saiddetonating device whereby the supporting means and detonating device areadapted to be moved by the lazy tongs to a fully extended positionthrough a much greater distance than the degree of movement of saidexible diaphragm, a source of power, a cam element secured to saidsupporting means, a switch device adapted to be engaged by said camelement as the detonating device is moved to said fully extendedposition, and means including a plurality of electrical connections forcausing the detonating device to be tired by said source of power whenthe switch device is operated by said cam element in response to themovement of said supporting means from said fully extended position.

8. In a submarine mine, the combination of a hydrostat having a ilexiblediaphragm in communication with the water, a member secured to saiddiaphragm and movable therewith, a casing having means for slideablysupporting said movable member, a soluble washer in contact with thewater and disposed about said movable member, said washer being adaptedto prevent movement of the member and diaphragm until the washer isdissolved, means including an arming wire operatively connected to saidmovable member for additionally preventing movement of the movablemember and the diaphragm until the arming wire has been withdrawn fromthe movable member, a pair of levers operatively connected to saidmovable member and pivotally mounted on said casing, said levers havingrelatively short projecting arms, a pair of retractile springsrespectively secured to each of said arms and said casing, said springsbeing of sucient length to cause the flexible diaphraghm to be yieldablyurged against the water with a substantially uniform degree of pressurethroughout the movement of the diaphragm, a motion multiplying deviceoperatively secured to said levers, a detonating device controlled bysaid motion multiplying device, said detonating device having an initialretracted position and an extended position, a plurality of switchingdevices, means secured to said movable member for operating saidswitching devices in predetermined sequential order during the movementof said detonating device to said extended position, a switch deviceincluding a pair of ring contacts adapted to re the detonating device,means effective when said detonating device has been moved to saidextended position for establishing a control connection between saidswitch device and the motion multiplying device, and means actuated bysaid motion multiplying device for causing said tiring contacts to bemoved to closed position and fire the detonating device concurrentlywith the movement of the detonating device from said extended position.

9. In a hydrostat device, in combination, a support, a flexiblediaphragm secured to said support and having one side thereof incommunication with a body of water, means including a pair of levers foryieldably urging said diaphragm against the water, a movable membersecured to said diaphragm and operatively connected to said levers, saidmovable member being slidably supported within said support, a U-shapedmember secured to said support on opposite sides of said movable memberand having a slotted portion in each side thereof, means secured to saidlever arms for multiplying the degree of movement of said movablemember, a supporting member slideably supported within said U-shapedmember at the slotted portions thereof, means for operatively connectingsaid sildeable member to the motion multiplying device whereby theslideable member is adapted to be moved by the motion multiplying devicethrough a much greater distance than the degree of movement of thediaphragm, a detonating device secured to said slideable member andmovable therewith, said detonating device being normally arranged withinsaid U-shaped support when the ilexible diaphragm is unoperated by thepressure of the surrounding water, and an annular member secured to saidU- shaped support within the path of travel of the detonating device andcoaxially therewith for additionally guiding and supporting saidslideable member when the slideable member and detonating device havebeen moved to a fully extended position by the pressure ofthe wateragainst the flexible diaphragm.

10. In a submarine mine, the combination of a hydrostat, lazy tongsoperatively connected to said hydrostat, means including a plurality ofelongated retractile springs for yieldably urging said lazy tongs toclosed position, a detonating device secured to said lazy tongs andadapted to be moved thereby to an extended position as the hydrostatoperates, a plurality of circuit closing devices adapted to bc closed inpredetermined sequential order during the actuation of said detonatingdevice to said extended position, a terminal block supported by saidhydrostat and having a plurality of terminal connections forestablishing a plurality of electrical circuits to said circuit closingdevices and to said detonating device respectively, a mine firingmechanism in electrical circuit with said terminal connections, andmeans included in said mine firing mechanism for exploding thedetonating device in response to the approach of a vessel when thedetonating device has been moved to said extended position by saidmotion multiplying means.

11. In a device of the character disclosed, the combination of a exiblediaphragm having one side thereof in communication with the water, amovable member secured to said diaphragm, a pair of levers, each of saidlevers having a slotted portion therein, means for pivotally supportingsaid levers with the slotted portions thereof in substantial alinementwith each other, a bearing pin secured to said movable member anddisposed within said slotted portions of the levers, a pair of springsrespectively secured to each of said levers for yieldably urging thediaphragm against the water, lazy tongs operatively connected to saidlevers, a detonating device, means operatively connected to said lazytongs for supporting said detonating device whereby the supporting meansand detonating device are adapted 4to be moved by the lazy tongs to afully extended position through a much greater distance than the degreeof movement of said exible diaphragm, a source of power, a cam elementsecured to said supporting means, a switch device adapted to be engagedby said cam element as the detonating device is moved to said fullyextended position, and means including a plurality of electricalconnections for causing the detonating device to be red by said sourceof power when the switch device is operated by said cam element inresponse to the movement of said supporting means from said fullyextended position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 913,524Leon Feb. 23, 1909 1,372,617 Fullinwider Mar. 22, 1921 1,382,374 Maxim.Tune 21, 1921 1,844,575 Harrison Feb. 9, 1932 2,400,549 Glennon et alMay 21, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS 297,514 France Feb. 22, 1900 263,985 ItalyApr. 10, 1929 297,182 Italy .lune 6, 1932

